Door template



Feb 25, 1964 FlNDLEY 3,121,958

DOOR TEMPLATE Filed July 26. 1961 "gfsz Fay/77000 5/7 d/ey INVENTOR.

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By Mai, a. 5M

United States Patent O 3,121,958 DOOR TEMPLATE Raymond Findley, 2916 University Blvd, Houston 5, Tex assignor of fifty percent to Frank Stewart, Houston, Tex.

Filed July 26, 1961, Ser. No. 126,996 Claims. (Cl. 33194) The present invention relates to an improved door template particularly suited for the efiicient sizing or fitting of doors to be hung in previously installed door frames.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a door template which is utilized to fit a wooden door to hang properly in a wooden or metal frame without resort to time consuming, laborious, or complex tools and techniques. When door jambs are installed, they are often out of plumb (i.e. not vertical), not parallel to each on her, and bowed inwardly or outwardly or bellied. Likewise, the head is often not level, not parallel to the sill, and not perpendicular to the jambs. Finally, the sill often suffers the same defects as the head. The present invention is well suited to the fitting of doors to distorted frames as well as to true and rectangular frames.

Of the many devices suggested in the prior art, the simplest have suffered from the failure to provide for the numerous distortions which occur to installed frames, while the more complicated devices have been usually so complex that the workman forgets how to operate it successfully. Of course, all carpenters have some experience and skill in the use of the straight edge, saw and plane. With the present invention, nothing more is required to fit a door to a frame successfully. It is further among the objects of the present invention to minimize the handling of the door, the taking, transferring and recording of measurements, and the introduction of extra operations or unusual skill and tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door template which gives ten points of measurement with only eight settings of the various adjustable members.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a door template which is light, simple, yet rigid and efficient, and which may be readily fitted to the installed frame and then transferred to the door to be fitted so that it may be appropriately marked and cut with a minimum of effort, and without marring the surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a door template which automatically gages the door for proper clearance so that it will hang and swing freely.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where:

FIGURE 1 is a front View of the door template fitted in an already installed frame,

FIGURE 2 is a top sectional view of the door template taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the door template taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the door template taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 and particularly showing the construction of a mid-height jamb gage.

The invention generally comprises a pair of vertical arms joined by two pairs of diagonal cross braces so arranged that the vertical arms are fully adjustable. Included on the vertical arms are ten gages for properly measuring the installed door jamb so that the door may be cut to size.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG URE 1, the reference numeral generally designates the 3,121,958 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 door template which includes the vertical arms 12 and 14, and the diagonal cross braces 16. The door template 10 is shown fitted within the door frame 18, which includes the left jamb 20, the right jam'b 22, the head 24', and the sill 26. Mounted on and extending outwardly from the vertical arm 12 is the bottom gage 28 which bears against the sill 26 and the left jamb 20. Similarly mounted on and extending outwardly from the vertical arm 14 is the bottom gage 30 which bears against the sill 26 and the right jamb 22. It is, of course, apparent that each bottom gage may comprise two separate gages, one a downwardly extending sill gage and the other a laterally outwardly extending jamb gage. As both functions may [he performed by a single gage on each arm, they have been combined on the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. However, for ease of explanation, the bottom gages are sometimes referred to as sill gages or as jamb gages, according to the function then being performed.

Rigidly attached to the top of the vertical arm 12 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom is the upper jamb gage 32. Similarly attached to the vertical arm 14 is the upper jamb gage 34. Slidably mounted for vertical extension on the vertical arm 12 is the head gage 36', and similarly mounted on the vertical arm 14 is the vertically extenda-ble head gage 3-8. As shown in FIGURE 1, the head gages 36 and 38 bear against the head 24 of the frame 18*, while the top jamb gages 32 and 34- bear against the left jamb 20 and right jamb 22 respectively, at their upper portions. Located approximately midway along the vertical arm 12 is the horizontally extending midheight gage 40, which bears against the left jamb 20 of the door frame 18. Similarly located on the vertical arm 14 is the mid-height gage 42 which extends to bear against the right jamb 22.

As shown in FIGURE 1, one end of each diagonal cross brace 16 is pivotally attached to either vertical arm 12 or 14-, the pivot point being denominated 44. The other ends of the cross braces 16 are slidably and pivotably attached to the vertical arms 12 or 14- so that they may move along the slots 46 and rotate therein, and be held in any determined position therealong by tightening the knobs 48. Additionally, each pair of diagonal cross braces 16 are pivotably attached together at their mid-points by the pivots St The vertical extensible head gages 36 and 38 may be held in any extended position by tightening the knobs 52. In a similar manner, the horizontally extensible mid-height gages 4d and 42 may be horizontally moved and then held in any position by tightening the knobs 54. The operation of any of these knobs i8, 52, or 54 is conventional, and by referring to FIGURE 4 for example it is seen that tightening or turning the knob 54 results in pulling a screw 53 into the knob and clamping two or more members together.

In use, the knobs 48, 52 and 54 are all loosened, and the gages 36, 38, 4d and 42 are all moved inwardly. Then, the door template it) is placed within the installed frame 18 to which a door is to be fitted. The sill gages 28 and 36) are rested upon the sill 26 or if there is no sill then the floor, and the vertical arms 12 and 14 are moved laterally apart so that the jamb gages 28 and 32 bear against the left jamb 20 and the jamb gages 3t and 34 bear against the right jamb 22. Of course, at the same time, the bottom gages 28 and 3t) are still bearing against the sill 26, or floor. Then, the knobs 43 are all tightened thus making the door template it) a rigid structure, contacting each jamb in two places and the sill in two places. At this point, it should be noted that as often occurs, the left jamb 2t) and the right jamb 22 may not be parallel, consequently the vertical arm 12 will not be parallel to the vertical arm 14.

Now the mid-height gages 4t and 42 are extended so that they bear against the left jamb 20 and right jamb 22 respectively, and their knobs 54 are now tightened to set these positions. It may here be noted that either jamb may be bowed or bellied, yet the appropriate midheight gage 40 or 42 adjusts to meet this contingency. Finally, the head gages 36 and 33 are extended vertically until they bear against the head 24, whereupon their knobs 52. are tightened to set them in position. Now, the door template Outlines the frame 18 in ten separate and distinct places, thereby advantageously providing for any normal or distorted frame 18. Thus it is seen that the door template 10 correctly corresponds to and defines the frame 18 as installed.

Now, the door template it is removed from the frame 18 and placed backside down upon the door to be fitted. Thereupon the door is marked at the ten gage points of measurement so that it will accurately and correctly fit the door frame 18. It is, of course, apparent that clearance must be provided for the door within the frame 18 so that it will hang properly without binding. For this purpose the jamb gages attached to one of the vertical arms, such as 12, are recessed or notched to refiect the proper clearance. Thus, it is seen in FIGURE 1 that the top jamb gage 32 includes a notch, as does the mid height gage 40 and the bottom jamb gage 28. Typically, this notch is a recess of approximately W of an inch so that when the door is finally cut out and placed in the frame 18, there will be clearance of j of an inch on either side. In a somewhat similar manner, and to provide for clearance at the head and sill, vertical steps are formed in the sill gages 28 and 30. The first step is typically /a of an inch which will provide A inch clearance on top and bottom of the door when installed. The second step is somewhat more, typically /4 of an inch, and is utilized to provide further clearance if desired. In this manner, the deeper notch in the sill gages 28 and 30 will provide a inch clearance at the head of the door and V10 at the bottom.

Therefore, after placing the door template ll which has been fitted to the installed frame 18, on the door to be fitted, pencil marks are made on the door adjacent the right jamb gages 3t), 42, and 34. Likewise, pencil marks are made adjacent the head gages 36 and 38 on the door to be fitted. In a similar manner, and to provide clearance, pencil marks are made on the door to be fitted at the trough of the recessed left jamb gages 32, 40, and 28. Finally, pencil marks are made on the stepped sill gages 28 and 30 to provide the appropriate vertical clearance for the door to be fitted. Now, the door template 10 is removed from the door to be fitted, the ten pencil marks are connected with a straight edge, and the door is quickly and accurately cut to fit the door frame 18, as by sawing, in a conventional manner.

In this manner, the door template 10 of the present invention has provided an efficient means to quickly and accurately fit a door to an installed door frame 18. Further, the door template 10 is fully adjustable for all of the defects encountered in a defectively installed door frame 18.

While knobs, such as 54 in FIGURE 4 have been described with reference to the present invention, it is apparent that other appropriate releasable fastening means may be used, such as wing bolts. Further, while no material has been specified for the various arms and cross braces, it is readily seen that aluminum and magnesium are ideally suited due to their strength and lightness. Finally, and now with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, it is seen that the vertical arms 12 and 14 generally comprise U-shaped channels with all of the movable parts set safely away from the ends of the U. In this manner, there are no exposed screws or the like to mar the finish on the door to be fitted when the door template It) is laid thereon for sizing.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination, shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A template for fitting a door to an installed door frame comprising two vertical arms, two pairs of diagonal cross braces adjustably interconnecting said arms, one end of each brace pivoted on one arm and the other end slidably pivoted on the other arm, each pair of cross braces pivoted together at the center of said braces, upwardly vertically extensible adjustable head gages mounted at the top of each arm, downwardly extending sill gages mounted at the bottom of each arm, said sill gages including vertical steps, laterally outwardly extending jamb gages mounted adjacent the top and bottom of each arm, and laterally outwardly extensible adjustable midheight jamb gages mounted adjacent the center of each arm, all of said jamb gages mounted on one arm including recessed portions.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sill gages and adjacent bottom jamb gages are combined.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said adjustable braces and gages are rigidly and releasably securable when said gages bear against said door frame.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vertical arms comprise U-shaped channels, the ends of said U defining an uninterrupted plane.

5. The invention of claim 4 including all of said gages and steps extending parallel to the plane defined by the ends of said U.

Lundquist Feb. 10, 1931 Bryant June 20, 1950 

1. A TEMPLATE FOR FITTING A DOOR TO AN INSTALLED DOOR FRAME COMPRISING TWO VERTICAL ARMS, TWO PAIRS OF DIAGONAL CROSS BRACES ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID ARMS, ONE END OF EACH BRACE PIVOTED ON ONE ARM AND THE OTHER END SLIDABLY PIVOTED ON THE OTHER ARM, EACH PAIR OF CROSS BRACES PIVOTED TOGETHER AT THE CENTER OF SAID BRACES, UPWARDLY VERTICALLY EXTENSIBLE ADJUSTABLE HEAD GAGES MOUNTED AT THE TOP OF EACH ARM, DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SILL GAGES MOUNTED AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH ARM, SAID SILL GAGES INCLUDING VERTICAL STEPS, LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING JAMB GAGES MOUNTED ADJACENT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF EACH ARM, AND LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENSIBLE ADJUSTABLE MIDHEIGHT JAMB GAGES MOUNTED ADJACENT THE CENTER OF EACH ARM, ALL OF SAID JAMB GAGES MOUNTED ON ONE ARM INCLUDING RECESSED PORTIONS. 